Two artists Malati and Suprapto Suryodarmo pray before the ceremony of the Kebo Ketan slaughter in Sekarputih village, Widodaren, Ngawi, East Java, on Dec. 18, 2016. JP/ Magnus Hendratmo

A man climbs on top of the buffalo to unveil the white cloth covering the statue before the ceremony of the Kebo Ketan slaughter in Sekarputih village, Widodaren, Ngawi, East Java last month. JP/ Magnus Hendratmo

Two children perform a dance during the parade of Kebo Ketan in Sekarputih village, Widodaren, Ngawi, East Java. JP/Magnus Hendratmo

A religious leader throws some rose petals and burns incense to open the parade of the Kebo Ketan in Sekarputih village, Widodaren, Ngawi, East Java. JP/Magnus Hendratmo

A Reog Abang dancer from Jatisrono, Wonogiri, Central Java, performs during the ceremony of the Kebo Ketan slaughter in Ngawi, East Java. JP/Magnus Hendratmo

People parade the statue of Kebo Ketan around Sekarputih village last month. Kebo Ketan was 2.5 meters high, 4.5 meters long and made from sticky rice. Additionally, the plastic head was made by renowned artist Heri Dono. JP/Magnus Hendratmo

Browse This Album:

Kebo Ketan: Happening art with an impact

Posted:
Thu, January 26, 2017 | 05:39 pm

Kebo Ketan festival in Ngawi, East Java, has not only been a spectacle but also is “a happening art event with an impact”. Organized by artist Bramantyo Prijosusilo and Sekarputih residents in Widodaren district in Ngawi, Kebo Ketan was a festival in December that addressed environmental problems in the area.

Hundreds of artists carried a giant buffalo, with a head from plastic fiber and body frame made of bamboo, covered with sticky rice.

The festival presented performing groups from other places in Java like Barong Abang from Tanggulangin in Sidoarjo and Dongkrek from Madiun, both in East Java. From Yogyakarta, the Bregada Niti Manggala group also performed in the festival.

Kebo means buffalo while ketan means sticky rice.

Thousands of people watched the procession along the road.

Bramantyo said Kebo Ketan offered an ethical and aesthetic experience to the people as it conveyed an environmental message through culture and art happening.

The event is expected to build stronger cohesion between the people in guarding their local water sources. Widodaren has two springs, Margo and Ngiyom, whose existence had become threatened following deforestation of the Begal forest.

“Following a suggestion from Habib Lutfi Yahya, Kebo Ketan happening art is held as part of celebrations of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth. We plan to hold it annually,” Bramantyo said.